Ice-creeper.



J. MACVANE.

ICE CREEPER.

APPLICATxoN mso JAN. 3o, 1915.

Patented Sept. 28, 19l5,

Jar/m5 Mac Llama JV. 3.71m

@Momma JAMES VIJLCVANE, OF PEOVXDENCE, RHODE SLAND, ASSIG-NOR 0E @NE-HLLE T WILLAM B. CARPENTER, 0F PROVIDENCE, IRE-[GDE ISL Nl?.

'.CE-CREEPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, JAMES MACVANE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode island, have in? vented certain new and useful improvements in loe-Creepers, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ice creepers, and has for its object to lprovide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be readily fitted to any shoe, ovcrshoe or article of footwear, and will operate in an elective manner to prevent slipping when walking upon icy pavements and the like.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an ice Creeper which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can .he easily and quickly adjusted to lit diiiierent sizes ol shoes, which will not in any manner injure the shoe or article of footwear to which it. is applied, and which enables the foot to obtain a firm grip upon icy surfaces.

wiffith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims. For a lull understanding` of the invention, reference is to he had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe pro vided with an -ice'creeper constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective View of the ice Creeper, with the retaining straps removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the ice ereeper, the section being taken through one end thereof so as to show the manner of mounting the sliding hars. Fig. i is a: transverse sectional view through one oi the lateral arms of the body and the sliding bar mounted under the same. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing bythe same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present emhodiment of the invention, 'the numeral l designates the main plate or stock which is adapted to be fitted upon the sole orA a shoe or other analogous article of footwear. This stock l is provided upon each side. thereof with corresponding vlaterally projecting arms 2, 3 and e. The lateral arms 2; are ar ranged at the front of the stock, the arms 3 at an intermediate point in 'the length there of, and the arms 4e at the rear .olf the plate, the corresponding` arms upon opposite sides of the plate being in substantial alinement with each other, so as to provide in effect a series or' three parallel cross hars adapted to extend transversely across the ,sole of 'the shoe. The portions la and lb of the stock l between the correspondini'f lateral arms projecting from opposite sid s ai the stoel. are ollset laterally from each other so that 'the stock will lconform more nearly the shape of the shoe to which is applied. For right and left shoes the portions lg and l. of the stock l would be offset in opposite directions so that a pair of the ice creepers when applied in the correct manner to a pair of shoes will properly fit the shape thereof.

A transverse slide 5 is mounted under the Jiorward end or' the stock l and extends nnder the corresponding laterally projecting arms 2 thereof. A. similar transverse slide 6 is mounted under the rear end of the stock l and extends under the laterally projecting arms il. The said lateral arms 2 and i are formed at the sides thereof with ears 7 which are returned around the respective slides to provide guide members' through which the slides are adapted to move. One end of the slide 5 is formed with an upturned sole engaging lug 5aand in a similar manner the corresponding end oi' the slide 6 is formed with a sole engaging lug S, the said lugs 5a and 6a being preferably curved transversely so that the edges thereof will not hito into and engage the soles of' the shoe and being also provided with strap enraging slots 8. The ends of the lateral arms and l on the opposite side or". the stock are provided with integral sole engaging lugs 2 and Il respectively which are4 also transversely curved and have an opposed relation to 'the sole engaging lugs 5 and 6u. lWith this construction it will he understood that by properly adjusting the slides 5 and G the sole of the shoe to which the device is applied can be grippe-d between the. opposed sole engaging lugs onv opposite sides thereof.

The slides 5 and 6 are each provided withl a series of downwardly projecting teeth 9f In the present instance the upper ends or bases of these teeth 9 are formed with re- .duced stems 9a which pass through openings in the bases of depressions 10 formed in the slides, the extremities of the stems 9=being upset or clenched within the depressions 10 so as to retain the teeth in position. The

. provision of the depressions 10 prevents 'the upset ends of the stems 9 from projecting above the upper surfaces of the slides in such a manner as to engage the stock and interfere with the proper operation of the slides. Each of these slides 5 and 6 is 'pref- 6 isformedwith a slot 14 through which the returned end of a. flexible metal strap 15 is threaded. The upper ends of the flexiblel metal straps 15 have the usual leather strap members 16 connected thereto,

` corresponding strap members 17 being conof the respective slides and the leather strap' nected to the sole engaging lugs 5a and 6a members 16 and 17 having the usual buckle connection 18.

l The returned ends 15 of the metal straps 15 engage the slots 14 of the respective slides-and have a binding or frictional engagement With the stock which tends to hold the slides against accidental movement.` The metallic construction of the strap members 15 is also important for the reason lthat portions of these strap members extend under the stock and would quickly wear through if made of leather, fabric or l like material, When fitting the ice creepers with thel stock will serve to hold the slides in an adjuste position, although it is preferable, to -provide some positive locking means such as the set screws 11 which can bel tightenedafter the slides have been adjusted. The outer ends of the metal straps 15 are then bent upwardly against the respective sole engaging lugs 2a and 4, The leather strap members 16 and 17 can then be buckled over the top of the shoe, as illustrated by Fig. 1, so as to hold the device securely in position.` After the ice Creepers have once been adjusted they can be very quickly applied to the shoe or removed therefrom, and when in position will enable the shoe to obtain a firm grip upon slippery and icy surfaces so that slipping is practically impossible.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An ice Creeper including a stock provided upon oppositesides thereof with corresponding laterally projecting arms, the said arms upon one side of the stock terminating in sole engaging lugs, transversely disposed slides mounted upon the stock and extending under the laterally projecting arms, said slides terminating in sole engaging lugs which have an opposed relation to the before mentioned sole engaging lugs of the stock, metal straps extending under theA stock and connected to the slides and arranged and constructed to produce a binding engagement with the stop, and strap connections between the metal straps and the sole engaging lugs of the slides.

2. An ice creeper including a stock formed upon opposite sides thereof with corresponding laterally projecting arms, one set of the arms terminating in sole engaging lugs, transversely disposed slides mounted under the lstock and extending under the lateral arms thereof, said slides terminating in sole engaging lugs having an opposed relation to the before mentioned sole engaging lugs of the stock, teeth carried by the slides, means for locking the slides in an adjusted position, metal strap members extending under the stock and connected to the slides and arranged and constructed to produce a binding engagement with the stock, and strap connections between the metal straps and the sole en` gaging lugs of the slides'.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MACVANE. 

